The women that serve daily on behalf of the American people are fierce trailblazers in their own right. As a means to seemingly promote gender equality, there is a new term that has been floating around the United States Congress. You see, as of late congressional members have been referring to their female House representatives and Senate members as “gentle-ladies.” (Example: The gentle lady from California will now address the House.) Now whatever your personal opinion is on the alluring appeal (or lack there of) of the term itself, there is one thing I think that we can all come…

I have been blessed to have my parents, siblings, teachers, and friends as my lifelong advocates. These people have helped shape my beliefs through good conversation and have shown me how important it is to approach all challenges with optimism and grace. However, the attorney who enabled my family to immigrate to the United States from India was also my advocate. Without his work, I would not have had the opportunity to grow personally and professionally here. His advocacy inspired me to become an attorney and pursue externship experiences which would enable me to use my skills to serve and…

The past month and a half has been a difficult time for me. We have had illnesses (my children, my partner, and I), sadness, stress, and transition difficulties. In addition, the number of work hours from my current job dropped, and I am working less than part-time. After several agonizing weeks, and consultation with several individuals, I made an important, yet difficult decision to postpone taking the bar. It came down to finances and personal health issues impacting my family and I -- I chose my family. The decision was not easy to make. I still feel slightly disappointed. Yet,…

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are undoubtedly aware of how trendy the concept “personal branding” has become. And there are as many definitions of the term “as Carter’s has pills” (to borrow one of grandfather’s favorite expressions). So what exactly does it mean to have a personal brand? Simply put, personal branding is the story of you. Think of it as a journalistic dive into your own who, what, when, where and how. First, name the qualities that are distinct to you as an individual. That’s your who. Are you intellectually curious, uncompromising, articulate, flexible? How do…

An upcoming article by three women lawyers--the Chief Judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, the former CEO of the D.C. Bar and a law partner who chairs the D.C. Pro Bono Committee--set forth 8 valuable tips for pursuing and advancing a successful and meaningful career. These remarkable women highlight the importance of harnessing your passion, getting the credit you deserve, taking charge of your professional development and building strong relationships inside and outside your organization. Take a moment to review the article and then reflect upon how you can take action and incorporate their advice into your own…

"Ms. JD is focused this year on how we can all be Stronger Together. What does being Stronger Together mean to you in the public interest context? What does it mean for your public interest pursuits?" In a speech, former Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton explained that, “[w]e are stronger together, in facing our internal challenges and our external ones.” For me, in the public interest context, this means breaking down barriers which prevent marginalized groups and minority communities from succeeding— pushing for criminal justice reform, ensuring that small businesses thrive, tackling homelessness, mental health, and domestic violence—while building communities that work for everyone…

Hi Ms. JD Pre-Law! Do check out this summer internship opportunity with the Asian American Bar Association of New York: What? The Asian American Bar Association of New York (AABANY) represents the interests of New York Asian-American attorneys, judges, law professors, legal professionals, legal assistants or paralegals and law students. Its mission is to improve the study and practice of law, and the fair administration of justice for all by ensuring the meaningful participation of Asian-Americans in the legal profession. AABANY’s Legal Internship Program supports Asian-American students, law clerks and lawyers interested in the legal profession to develop a commitment to advocacy…

Today's Ms. JD Q&A is with J.Y. Ping, an educator and social entrepreneur who founded 7Sage and PreProBono. J.Y. has a JD from Harvard Law School and a BA from Columbia University. J.Y., you're the founder of 7Sage, which provides affordable online LSAT test prep. For example, you offer an LSAT Starter course, containing your entire core curriculum, for just $179, and your most expensive course is $749—a fraction of what test prep companies typically charge. What inspired your mission to "liberate and democratize education"? J.Y.: One thing that inspired me was when I realized that statements like “X is…

Hi Ms. JD Pre-Law! Here's an internship opportunity at the American Bar Association that you might want to check out: What? The Standing Committee on Law and National Security conducts studies, sponsors programs and conferences and administers working groups on law and national security related issues. These activities assist policymakers, educate lawyers, the media and the public, and enable the committee to make recommendations to the American Bar Association governing body. The committee is hiring interns to assist in conducting research and drafting memos on issues including terrorism, cybersecurity, surveillance and homeland security. Responsibilities include attending meetings and programs, as well as hearings on…

At the second installment of this year's Launching Your Career seminar series by the New York City Bar, our cohort of pre-law undergraduates and recent graduates had the opportunity to hear about networking and finding a mentor from Janine Pollack and Regina Calcaterra, partners at Wolf Haldenstein, before immediately practicing those tips in a "speed networking" event with practicing attorneys. One of our pre-law participants, Kamya Arora, reflected after the event: "I took a lot away from both Janine and Regina's presentations today. Their personal stories of growth especially struck me as inspiring. They reminded me that learning never stops—even…

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